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When an F01/F02 is equipped with the optional Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection system, the twin-kidney grille is slightly modified. Using nine vertical slats instead of the standard 13 provides an unobstructed view for the infrared camera’s lens.

Which looks better?

I have to assume the design folks think 13 are better since nearly all offical photos show the 13.

I haven't seen the 9-slat grille in person, so I will qualify my statement accordingly. I worry that the 9-slat would look too "black" overall, though, like the black slat grilles on the 6 cyl. X5 and X6. I'll end up with the 13-slat anyway, because I skipped NV. I had it on my '07 750i and thought it was one of the single biggest wastes of money I'd experienced in a long time. And that's saying something.

Where is the night vision display? On the new Benz E class it shows on the navigation screen, which is kind of dumb, I'm not going to have my eyes on my center console instead of the road while driving.

Where is the night vision display? On the new Benz E class it shows on the navigation screen, which is kind of dumb, I'm not going to have my eyes on my center console instead of the road while driving.

That was one of my main issues with NV on my '07 750i. If you have to take your eyes off the road to look at it, I'm just not sure that it's helpful.

I bet the grilles would be easily swapped out if you wanted to switch. I know for my wife's 328 wagon, we swapped the grilles since she wanted chrome, not black. It was easily popped in/out by the dealership and cost under $100, if I recall. I wouldn't know why the same couldn't be done for the new 7er.

I bet the grilles would be easily swapped out if you wanted to switch. I know for my wife's 328 wagon, we swapped the grilles since she wanted chrome, not black. It was easily popped in/out by the dealership and cost under $100, if I recall. I wouldn't know why the same couldn't be done for the new 7er.

It's not. The only reason BMW has a NV offering is because it was easy to utilize the iDrive screen. Howver, the display should be on the windshield (headup) or dash gauge area (Mercedes).

I think the ads for it are a bit misleading, too. It would be most helpful, I would think, in locating deer at night by the side of the road, which are usually moving rather rapidly and unpredictably, unlike the lone jogger you see in the ads.

I thought it would be the coolest thing when I ordered it on my last 7, but after messing around with it in the first week of ownership, I'm not sure I ever used it.

I think the ads for it are a bit misleading, too. It would be most helpful, I would think, in locating deer at night by the side of the road, which are usually moving rather rapidly and unpredictably, unlike the lone jogger you see in the ads.

I thought it would be the coolest thing when I ordered it on my last 7, but after messing around with it in the first week of ownership, I'm not sure I ever used it.

I bet the grilles would be easily swapped out if you wanted to switch. I know for my wife's 328 wagon, we swapped the grilles since she wanted chrome, not black. It was easily popped in/out by the dealership and cost under $100, if I recall. I wouldn't know why the same couldn't be done for the new 7er.

You can easily swap out the 9 for 13 or vice versa but you gonna lose the camera function since the housing is build into the 9.